The caterpillar is filling its stomach to become a Spurge Hawkmoth by the end of summer. Feeding on a poisonous plant, the caterpillar is showing conspicuous colours (aposematic colours) that should warn predators to avoid a highly toxic meal. Not enough, at the end of its back there is a conspicuous horn, red at the base and black at the tip - harmless but looking very scary.

Seen in dry mountain meadows above the village of Stepanzminda at an elevation of 1800m above sea level in front of magnificent Mount Kazbek (5047m), one of the Caucasian chain's most impressing peaks.

Hi Peter,it's very curious to know that you been in Georgia in the same week of me! I taken a lot of butterflies but not this beautiful caterpillar. A magnificent macro very sharp and bright with a wonderful blurred background of Caucasus. Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

Hello ð Peter,
Beautiful picture of this Caterpillar ð again such beautiful dramatic peak. I like its composition as well as details on Fern and Caterpillar ð. Sky looks bit pinkish ð¤..... Sunset colour! Otherwise nice presentation âº
Thanks for sharing your work with us ð
Regards and have a great week ð
Srikumar

Peter, what a pleasant surprise to see your work after such a long time!
This is a picture so beautiful it reminds me of the glorious era of TN when world-class nature photographers like you were still active.
Hope you resume posting again.
Regards.
Ram

Hi Peter,
I'm very glad you're posting again, and as you said, you'll visit the site more regularly. At the same time, thank you very much for visiting my gallery, and for your nice words. Your photo's fantastic, with proper exposure, beautiful colors and perfect sharpness on both the caterpillar and the greenery. Background, although a little bit overexposed, is very interesting also, with various layers of the faraway mountains. The overexposion even helps to isolate the main subject and to gain all the viewer's attention on it. A masterpiece! Bravo!
Kind regards from Ireland, LÃ¡szlÃ³